Construction line reel with ergonomic handle

ABSTRACT

A winding and storage device for construction line having an elongated body member with opposing line retainment extensions with an integrated aperture handle grip there within. A rotatable handle positioned on a shaft extending transversely through said elongated body member positioned midway its longitudinal length allowing one hand line dispensing and ease of retrieval with reduced deployment and retrieval time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to construction line reels and more particularlyto a construction line reel ergonomically designed for speed and stressreduced deployment by construction workers. The unique design andinclusion of the handle lends itself to a distinct improvement in theretrieval of the construction line.

2. Description of Prior Art

Prior art reels of this type have been directed to a variety of reeldesigns, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,414,237, 2,249,433, 3,901,458,4,497,457.

In U.S. Pat. No. 1,414,237 a kite reel is disclosed having a support rodwith a pivoted reel block extending therefrom with an offset crankhandle in a modified form.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,249,433 is directed to winding and paying out lineconfigurations having a paddle reel pivotally secured to a shaft. Thereel has an offset handle extending therefrom for rotation of the reelabout the spindle.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,458 claims a rope caddy having a flat line storagesupport with a fixed handle. The line is wrapped around the respectivesupport ends retaining same.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,457 shows a line holder having a flat line supportwith an integral longitudinal handle opening therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A construction line reel provides for improved line retrieval time overprior art by its ergonomically positioned handle on which theretainment, retrieval and dispensing spool freely rotates on an alignedtransverse axis. The construction line reel has a fixed offset handleopening and a line end retainment notch diagonally positioned in spacedrelation thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of line reel of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the line reel.

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the line reel.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the line reel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a construction line reel 10of the invention can be seen having an elongated main body member 11with oppositely disposed line engagement end surfaces 12 and 13, eachhaving respective upstanding line retainment guides 12A, 12B, 13A and13B thereon.

The main body member 11 has spaced parallel side surfaces 14 and 15 withrespective interconnecting flat front surface 16 and oppositely disposedco-planar rear surface 17 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The side surface 14 has an offset handle support portion 18 with anenlarged aperture at 19 therein defining a static handle grip for theline reel 10 of the invention.

A rotating handle assembly 20 extends from the handle support section 18at an aligned midway point of the elongated body member 11. The handleassembly 20 has a handle support rod 21 transversely through the mainbody member 11 and extending through the corresponding side surface 15with a threaded rod end 21A retained by washer and nut combination 21Bthereon.

An elongated handle 22 is rotatably secured on the support rod's freeend 21C so as to extend from the corresponding offset handle supportsection 18. It will be seen that the defined orientation of therotatable handle 22 from the main body member 11 will enable line reelrotation about the handle's axis aiding in deployment and recovery ofline L illustrated graphically in FIG. 2 of the drawings as it is woundand unwound around the line reel respective line engagement end surfaces12 and 13 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

An end line retention notch 23 is formed in a side support angulartransition surface 18A which will effectively hold the end of the linein place.

Referring back to the main body member 11, it will be seen that a pairof enlarged openings 11A and 11B therein in elongated spaced alignedorientation to one another between the respective line retaining endsurfaces 12 and 13 and between the correspondingly hereinbeforedescribed respective side surfaces 14 and 15. It will be seen that thepair of enlarged openings 11A and 11B in the main body member 11 bytheir orientation and design define a bracket configuration forretention and storage of the line during use.

Referring back now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that thetransverse midline placement of the rotatable handle assembly 20 betweenthe enlarged openings 11A and 11B within the main body member 11 affordsease of use and free rotation and greatly reduces the physical stress onthe user, not shown. It additionally be noted that the correspondingorientation and utilization of the rotatable handle assembly 20 andstatic hand grip opening at 19 reduces the time required to deploy andretrieve large lengths of construction line required for use in theindustry.

The construction line reel 10 main body member can be formed of avariety of compliant materials by common and well known manufacturingmethods including, but not limited to injection plastic resin molding,medal dye cast or dye cut stamping, as required.

The hereinbefore described and illustrated construction line reel 10 ofthe invention can be conveniently and safely utilized therefore todispense construction cord by a construction worker with minimumattention directed to the process of dispensing the line and maximumattention directed to his or her free and safe support during use. Theabove described construction line reel 10 of the invention has furtheradvantage in that the construction line can be conveniently wound andrewound with a minimum of tangle and snagging of the construction line.Furthermore, the described construction line reel significantly speeds,as noted, the process of rewinding the construction line mostsignificantly by the deployment of the ergonomically designed handleassembly 20 in conjunction with the added speed of rewinding theconstruction line greatly reduces the physical stress upon theconstruction worker's forearm and wrist muscle, not shown, therebyenhancing the safety and physical wellness of the user.

It will thus be seen that a new and novel construction line reel hasbeen illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilledin the art that various changes and modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim:

1. A line reel holder and dispenser comprising, an elongated base bodymember having a line reel retainment portion and an offset handlesupport portion, a dual handle configuration within and extending fromsaid offset handle support portion, a line end holding means within saidoffset handle support portion, said line reel retaining portioncomprising, a line engagement bracket having an oppositely disposed lineengaging end surfaces, spaced upstanding line retainment guards on saidrespective line engagement surfaces, said dual handle configurationcomprising, a hand grip opening within said offset handle supportportion, and a rotatable handle extending from said offset handlesupport portion in spaced relation thereto.
 2. The line reel holder anddispenser set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotatable handle furthercomprises, a handle support rod extending transversely midway throughsaid base body member, said rotatable handle mounted on said handlesupport rod so as to freely rotate thereon.
 3. The line reel holder anddispenser set forth in claim 1 wherein said base body member has a pairof longitudinally spaced and aligned enlarged openings therein betweensaid respective line engagement end surfaces.
 4. The line reel holderand dispenser set forth in claim 1 wherein said line end holding meanscomprises, an end line retention notch in said offset handle portion inspaced relation to said dual handle configuration.